EP1156492A2

EP1156492A2 - Apparatus for transmuting nitrogen 14 into carbon 14

Info

Publication number: EP1156492A2
Application number: EP01304325A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Robert Wallace Beckwith; Andrew Pettit Craig
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-05-17
Filing date: 2001-05-15
Publication date: 2001-11-21
Also published as: EP1156492A3; US20030026375A1

Abstract

Nitrogen 14 is fed by pressure differentials in a continuous process in which atoms are held in fixed magnetic positions while electromagnetic energy converts protons into neutrons thus transmuting nitrogen 14 into carbon 14.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Carbon 14 (C14) in crystalline (diamond) form is a superconductor of great potential value to the electric utility industry because of the temperature range of C14 superconductivity from near absolute zero to the burning temperature of carbon. In addition, the great strength of C14 is of potential importance to the design of electric power lines, generators, motors, and transformers.
On an experimental basis the electric utility industry is currently using superconductors which require expensive cryogenic cooling. A less costly wide temperature range superconductor is needed by the electric utility industry.

REFERENCES

1. THE CRC HANDBOOK OF CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS, 78th edition pages 1-1, 1-4, 11-42, 11-43.
2. Journal of New Energy Vol. 4, page 217.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An experimental gas magnetron device for developing basic information and experimental data for the design of production apparatus for making carbon 14 (C14) from nitrogen 14 (N14). This device utilizes a cavity through which N14 flows in the presence of an electromagnetic field at the resonant frequency of N14. In the device atoms of N14 have their electromagnetic dimensions aligned and selectively their potential fields also. An electromagnetic wave resonant within the cavity causes protons in N14 atoms to absorb energy and change into neutrons thus transmuting N14 into C14. Excess valence electrons are released by the transmutation that are useful in detecting the production of C14.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

Prior art Fig. 1 A plot of the electric (E) dimension with locations for isoelectroniums, electrons, neutrons, protons and alpha particles.
Fig. 2a A diagram of a N14/C14 converter with a magnetic (B) field.
Fig. 2b The cross section of the cavity of Fig. 2a.
Fig. 3 Electro-magnet and supply for producing the B field.
Fig. 4a A diagram of an experimental N14/C14 converter with a potential (E) field added.
Fig. 4b The cross section of the cavity of Fig. 4a.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

ADVANCED PRINCIPLES OF ENGINEERING USED HEREIN

Six well known orthogonal dimensions are used routinely by electrical engineers. These are the three dimensions of Euclidean space x, y, and z, time T, the electric field E, and the magnetic field B. It is the educated as well as the practical experience of engineers that effects in each of these dimensions are independent of the other five, i.e. the six dimensions are orthogonal. It is well known to electrical engineers how a motor works. It turns, a time function, through some three dimensional positions, using forces produced by the interaction of the E and B fields. There is no reason known to engineers for the effects of the six fields to cease to function at some small space dimension. We therefore hold herein that there is no lower dimensional limit for the application of these fundamental principles of engineering.
Fig. 1 shows the E plane with isoelectroniums 6 found at -2 position, electrons 7 at -1 position, neutrons 8 at the zero point, protons 9 at the +1 position and alpha particles at the +2 position.
Note that alpha particles consist of two neutrons and two protons having a net charge of +2. Isoelectroniums likely exist only as two valence electrons tightly bonded holding two atoms or molecules together. An example may be the pairing of gaseous N14 atoms into pairs. Isoelectroniums were so named by Dr. Rogerro Santilli who first hypothesized their existence. See Reference 2.
It is known by others that transmutations may be produced by particle accelerators, electric arcs and by cavitation processes. An intended use of the inventive apparatus herein is to discover whether transmutations can be accomplished by the introduction of electromagnetic energy over much longer time periods than those of prior art methods, arcs or cavities.
Energy must be added to the nucleus of N14 atoms in order to convert one proton to a neutron changing the atom to C14. In the inventive apparatus energy is added to N14 atoms by applying electromagnetic (that is vibrational or heat) energy over an E distance of one electrical charge unit. This conversion creates a neutron and releases a non-energetic valence electron.

THE INVENTION

The first device of Figs. 2 and 3 and selectively a second device of Figs. 4 and 3 are for use in discovering basic information for transmutation of N14 into C14 in a continuous process utilizing a microwave cavity. N14 gas is brought into a cavity where it is heated by electromagnetic fields supplied by generator 34. Instead of random thermal heating as of water molecules as in a microwave oven, however, the magnetic, B, dimensions of N14 atoms are aligned so that N14 protons will be induced to vibrate in E dimensions more and more with each cycle of microwave energy. When N14 protons move into the neutron position on the E dimension of Fig. 1 they are expected to change into neutrons. Such a change of N14 protons to neutrons should transmute N14 into C14.
It is well known from experience with microwave ovens that molecules may be made to vibrate, that is heated, by use of an electromagnetic field at the resonant frequency of the water molecules most generally expected. Herein it is the plan to use nitrogen 14 (N14). With the proper microwave frequency we therefore expect the N14 to be heated, i.e. to vibrate.
A basic concept of this invention is to cause N14 atoms to vibrate along the E dimension perpendicular to the B dimension. This vibration is expected to add to the energy of protons of N14 atoms changing some protons of some atoms into neutrons, and thereby transmuting N14 atoms into C14 atoms. Fig. 2a shows a first device using a microwave cavity with a magnetic field to cause N14 atoms to align about their B axis. It is believed that the microwave energy will cause the N14 energy to move along the E axis thus transmuting into C14. This may not be optimum, however, and an E field may be desirable as illustrated by a second device in Fig. 4. Still further, transmutation may be found possible without the magnetic field, holding only the E field orientation.
Since the axes are orthogonal, in any combination of the E and B fields found to be desirable the atoms should vibrate with respect to x, y, and z dimensions adding energy to protons to produce transmutation of N14 into C14.

It is known that gaseous N14 atoms bond into pairs. It is believed by others that such bonding is created by the combination of one valence electron of each atom of the pair into a particle called an isoelectronium having a charge of -2. In so combining no further electrons in N14 are available to continue the bonding causing the process to stop with the creation of nitrogen atomic pairs. It is believed that C14 does have further electrons available for such bonding forming crystals of extreme strength apparently being unique among the elements in this characteristic. Electrons appear to tunnel out of C14 crystal atoms forming a superconductive surface which is maintained over a large temperature range in a somewhat different fashion than present cryogenic superconductors. Let us look at comparisons of properties of N14 and C14:

Nitrogen 14	Carbon 14
Atomic weights
14.00307401 (Ref. 1, p11-43)	14.00324199 (Ref. 1, p11-42)
Spin 0	+1
Atomic number 6	7
Protons 7	6
Neutrons 7	8
Inner electrons 2	2
Outer electrons 5	4

As we go down the table we see features of the process of transmuting from one nitrogen 14 atom to one carbon 14 atom. It is clear that it is necessary to convert one proton into a neutron.
It is convenient to measure the current produced by the ejection of the unneeded electron as an indication of the production of C14.

CALCULATION OF THE LOWER LIMIT OF C14 DETECTION

A DC current of 0.1 microamperes (10^-7 amperes) can be resolved using a Fluke True RMS Multimeter.
An Ampere is one coulomb per second.
An electron is 1.602 * 10^-19 coulombs. (Ref. 1, p1-1)
The electrons per second at one ampere of current is then: 1/(1.602 * 10^-19) = 6.24 * 10¹⁸ electrons per second.
Since there is one electron per atom of C14 produced, 6.24 * 10¹¹ atoms of C14 per second can be detected at a current of 10^-7 amperes.
The number of atoms per gram of C14 produced is found starting with Avogadro's number: 6.02 * 10²⁶ atoms in 14 kilograms of C14. (Ref. 1, p1-1)
The number of atoms in one kilogram is then:
6.02/14 = 0.43 * 10²⁶ atoms per Kg or 0.43 * 10¹⁷ atoms per microgram.
This implies the weight, W, of C14 converted per second that can be detected:
W = (6.24 * 10¹¹)/(0.43 * 10¹⁷) = 14.5 * 10^-6 micrograms per second or 1450 picograms per second.
The output current is thus preferred as the measure of transmutation of N14 into C14 as compared to any attempt to detect by weight.

CONSERVATION OF ENERGY IN THE TRANSMUTATION OF N14 TO C14

It is also useful to observe the conservation of energy in the overall process of adding energy for transmutation of nitrogen 14 into carbon 14 and with the release of energy with the eventual decay of C14 back into N14:
1) Nuclear masses:
C14 = 14.003241982 Atomic Mass Units (AMUs)
N14 = 14.003074002 AMU
2) The difference in AMU is:
C14 - N14 = 0.000167980 = 1.67980^-4 AMU
3) One AMU = 1.6605402^-27 kG (Ref. 1, p1-1)
4) The difference in mass is then:
(1.67980^-4 AMU) (1.6605402^-27) = 2.7893754^-31 kG
5) Using E = mc² the gain in energy of the C14 is:
(2.7893754^-31) (2.99792458 * 10⁸)²
= 2.5069656 * 10^-14 Joules
6) One electron volt = 1.60217733 10^-19 Joules (Ref. 1, p1-1)
7) The gain in energy in transmutation of one atom of N14 into an atom of C14 is:
(2.5069656 * 10^-14)/(1.60217733 * 10^-19)
= 156,472 electron volts
8) From the Table of Isotopes the decay mode of C14 back into N14 yields: (Ref.1, p11-42)
9) 0.15648 meV = 156,480 electron volts
The difference of 8 electron volts between 7) and 9) may be explainable as representing neutrinos emitted in the decay. The closeness of the two numbers fulfills the conservation of energy in the overall process and confirms C14 decay to N14, not to C12 as popularly believed.

COST OF ENERGY REQUIRED FOR PRODUCTION OF C14 FROM N14

The energy required for production of C14 from N14 can be determined:
From above there are 0.43 * 10²⁶ atoms per Kg of C14. Since an ampere is one coulomb per second and an electron is 1.602 * 10^-19 coulombs, then the energy that must be added in the transmutation process is:
10) (0.43 * 10²⁶) (156,472) = 6.73 * 10³⁰ electron volts per kG. It is useful to estimate the cost of producing C14 in possible production equipment developed through use of the present invention:
One watt second = 1 volt * 1 ampere * 1 second.
One watt second = one coulomb volt.
There are 6.24 * 10¹⁸ electrons per coulomb.
Therefore 1 watt second = 6.24 * 10¹⁸ electron volts.
The energy in one C14 atom = 1.56 * 10⁵ electron volts.
The number, N, of C14 atoms produced by one watt second of energy is:
11) N = (6.24 * 10¹⁸)/(1.56 * 10⁵) = 4 * 10¹³ Assume a cost of electric power at $0.10 per kilowatt hour.For $1.00 one therefore produces: 10 * 1000 w/kw * 3600 sec/hour * 4 * 10¹³ = 1.44 * 10²¹ atomsFrom above we had the weight of C14 = 0.43 * 10²³ atoms per gram, therefore:
12) (0.43 * 10²³ atoms per gram)/(1.44 * 10²¹ atoms/$) = $30 per gram. Of course this is the cost for 100% efficient apparatus.
Fig. 2a shows a first device using a magnetic field from a magnetic field supply as shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 2b shows a cross section of cavity 26.
Microwave ovens operate at 2.34 gHz which is the approximate resonant frequency of a water molecule and therefore most efficient in cooking food often consisting largely of water. The water molecule weight is essentially that of the largest atom, oxygen having an atomic number of 16. N14 and C14 each have an atomic number of 14. Being inversely proportional to the atomic number, the resonant frequency of either N14 or C14 is 16/14 of the resonant frequency of water. The resonant frequency of N14/C14 is then (16/14) * 2.34 gHz or 2.67 gHz. The frequency used herein must be tuned to the precise resonant frequency of nitrogen N14.
Note that the apparent mass of N14 and C14 differ slightly and therefore the resonant frequencies differ slightly. We will see below that we use a precise frequency to hold the N14 atoms where we want them for purposes of absorbing energy along the E dimension. Once transmuted into C14 atoms the frequency match is neither possible nor desirable since we do not want the C14 to absorb added energy along the E dimension.
Fig. 2a shows non-ferrous metallic cavity 26. Polarizing magnetic field 38 orients the magnetic dimension of N14 atoms to permit N14 atoms to absorb microwave energy from the cavity so as to mutate into C14 atoms. N14 gas enters chamber 23 from an N14 supply tank 20 through pipe 21 and first pressure regulator 22. These parts are connected to ground by ground 42. Atomic pairs of N14 should have no static charge with respect to ground. A first plate 24 contains orifice holes 25 for reducing the pressure of the N14 gas as it enters microwave resonant cavity 26. First plate 24 also serves the purpose of introducing N14 in an equally distributed flow over the cross section of the cavity. First plate 24 is connected by contact with cavity 26 and is insulated from chamber 23 with film 41. Cavity 26 is grounded through ammeter 40 and common ammeter 45 to ground 43 providing a first DC current path for electrons released by the transmutation of N14 into C14. Gas leaves cavity 26 through microwave generator 34 and into chamber 30 held under a reduced pressure by vacuum pump 27 with vacuum regulated by second pressure regulator 29. Chamber 30 is insulated from microwave generator 34 with an insulating layer 46 and is grounded through ammeter 44 and common ammeter 45 to ground 43. Second plate 31 has orifice holes 32 for maintaining a pressure difference between cavity 26 and the vacuum of chamber 30. Second plate 31 is insulated from cavity 26 by a thin insulating film 33 on the end flange of cavity 26 and is connected to micrcwave generator 34 by its mechanical mounting as one surface of generator 34. This film forms a distributed capacitance to effectively close the cavity 26 by plate 31 at the microwave frequency being used so as to reflect backward moving waves as required for cavity resonance. Microwave generator 34 drives multiple quarter wave length excitation antenna 35 which passes through plate 31 using insulating hole 39. Electrons released by transmutation of N14 into C14 may deposit on antenna 35 and plate 31 producing a second DC current through ammeter 36. Electrons released by transmutation of N14 into C14 may deposit on chamber 30 producing a third DC current through ammeter 44. Summing ammeter 45 gives an overall indication of the production of C14 measured by ammeters 36, 40 and 44 indicating the collection of C14 by the microwave supply and antenna, the cavity and the output manifold respectively. C14, when produced, may deposit within cavity 26, microwave generator 34 and output manifold 30. Eventually a build up of C14 may breach insulation layers and will be checked frequently. When necessary the equipment will be disassembled and examined for the presence of C14. Non electric vacuum gages, not shown, are included to monitor the pressures in input manifold 23, cavity 26 and output manifold 30.
Fig. 3 illustrates an electromagnet consisting of high permeability iron 70 excited by direct current in winding 71 for producing magnetic field 38 across cavity 26 of Fig. 2a and selectively cavity 50/51 of Figs. 4a and b. DC current for winding 71 is fed by conductor 72 from adjustable DC supply 74 with current returned to supply 74 over conductor 73.
Fig. 4 illustrates a selective variation of spitting the cavity into sections 50 and 51 with DC voltages placed on the two sections to create an electrical field 64 across the cavity at right angles to the magnetic field 38.
In Fig. 4 magnetic B field 38 and electrical E field 64 orients the B and E dimension of N14 atoms in metallic cavity 50/51 to permit N14 atoms to respond to microwave energy in the cavity so as to mutate into C14 atoms. N14 gas enters chamber 23 from an N14 supply tank 20 through pipe 21 and first pressure regulator 22. These parts are connected to ground by ground 42. Atomic pairs of N14 should have no static charge with respect to ground. A first plate 24 contains orifice holes 25 for reducing the pressure of the N14 gas as it enters microwave resonant cavity 50/51. First plate 24 also serves the purpose of introducing N14 in an equally distributed flow over the cross section of the cavity. First plate 24 is connected by contact with cavity 50/51 and is insulated from chamber 23 with film 41. Cavity 50/51 electric field supply 60 is grounded through ammeter 40 and common ammeter 45 to ground 43 providing a first DC current path for electrons released by the transmutation of N14 into C14. Gas leaves cavity 50/51 through microwave generator 34 and into chamber 30 held under a reduced pressure by vacuum pump 27 with vacuum regulated by second pressure regulator 29. Chamber 30 is insulated from microwave generator 34 with an insulating layer 46 and is grounded through ammeter 44 and common ammeter 45 to ground 43. Second plate 31 has orifice holes 32 for maintaining a pressure difference between cavity 50/51 and the vacuum of chamber 30. Second plate 31 is insulated from cavity 50/51 by a thin insulating film 33 on the end flange of cavity 50/51 and is connected to microwave generator 34 by its mechanical mounting as one surface of generator 34. This film forms a distributed capacitance to effectively close the cavity 50/51 by plate 31 at the microwave frequency being used so as to reflect backward moving waves as required for cavity resonance. Microwave generator 34 drives multiple quarter wave length excitation antenna 35 which passes through plate 31 using insulating hole 39. Electrons released by transmutation of N14 into C14 may deposit on antenna 35 and plate 31 producing a second DC current through ammeter 36. Electrons released by transmutation of N14 into C14 may deposit on chamber 30 producing a third DC current through ammeter 44. Summing ammeter 45 gives an overall indication of the production of C14 measured by ammeters 36, 40 and 44 indicating the collection of C14 by the microwave supply and antenna, the cavity and the output manifold respectively. As in the case of Fig. 2a, C14, when produced, may deposit within cavity 50/51, microwave generator 34 and output manifold 30. Eventually a build up of C14 may breach insulation layers and will be checked frequently. When necessary the equipment will be disassembled and examined for the presence of C14. Non electric vacuum gages, not shown, will be included to monitor the pressures in input manifold 23, cavity 26 and output manifold 30.
It is beyond the scope of this invention to go further into formation of C14 into desirable structures such as filaments. The process of converting C14 into useable form is obviously already developed for present uses of C14.

ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION:

1) Electrical outputs useable for detecting and optimizing the production of C14.
2) Modular construction for ease in exchanging and optimizing the inventive process.
3) Information leading to a low cost method of manufacturing carbon 14 from nitrogen.
4) A method of controlling the purity of the carbon 14 from undesired carbon 12 by controlling the purity of the nitrogen from which it is made.

Claims

Apparatus for transmutation of nitrogen 14 (N14), into carbon 14 (C14) comprising in combination:

a) feeding means for feeding N14 by pressure differentials in a continuous process,

b) magnetic field means for holding N14 atoms in fixed magnetic positions, and

c) electromagnetic field means for producing C14 atoms by adding energy to N14 nuclear protons whereby said protons change into neutrons thus causing the desired transmutation.
Apparatus as in Claim 1 further comprising electric field means at right angles to said magnetic field means for also holding N14 atoms in fixed electric positions.
Apparatus as in Claim 1 or 2 further comprising said electromagnetic field means adding energy to N14 atoms at the resonant frequency of N14 atoms whereby the desired transmutation is obtained.
Apparatus as in Claim 1, 2 or 3 further, comprising in combination:

a) cavity means for containing electromagnetic fields,

b) cavity exciting means for producing said fields from said electromagnetic field means, and

c) exciting means for producing magnetic fields within said cavity means whereby N14 is transmuted into C14.
Apparatus as claimed in Claim 4 wherein said cavity means has a first and a second side divided lengthwise, and

said exciting means places direct current voltages between said first side and said second side

so as to produce an electric field at right angles to said magnetic field whereby N14 is transmuted into C14.
Apparatus as in Claim 4 or 5 further comprising in combination,

a) input manifold means for regulating the flow of N14,

b) output manifold means for collecting gasses from said cavity and supplying said gasses to an exhaust pump,

c) regulating means for controlling the flow of gas through said exhaust pump,

d) pressure measuring means for said cavity means,

e) pressure measuring means for said input manifold means, and

f) pressure measuring means for said output manifold means whereby pressures are usable for optimizing performance of the apparatus.
Apparatus as in Claim 6 further comprising in combination,

a) orifice plate means providing a first pressure reduction between said input manifold means and said cavity means,

b) orifice plate means providing a second pressure reduction between said cavity means and said output manifold means,

c) gas tight assembly means preventing leaks between said input and output manifold means, said orifice plate means and said cavity means whereby a modular structure is formed for easy changing of said pressure reducing orifice plate means.
Apparatus as in Claim 7 wherein orifices are positioned on said orifice plate means so as to form a laminar flow of nitrogen through said cavity.
Apparatus means as in Claim 7 or 8 further providing interchangeable orifice plate means having various diameter orifices so as to permit experiments with a selection of pressure drops.
Apparatus as in Claim 7, 8 or 9 further incorporating. C14 collection means in said second orifice plate means whereby the second orifice plate means can be removed and examined for the presence of C 14.
Apparatus as in any preceding Claim wherein said N14 is ultra-pure with respect to C12 contamination.
Apparatus as in Claim 4 wherein said cavity means is resonant at the resonant frequency of N14.
Apparatus as in any preceding Claim further comprising in combination:

a) conductor means for collecting electrons released by transmutation of N14 into C14, and

b) measurement means of said electrons as an electric current whereby current measurements are usable in optimizing operation of said transmutation apparatus.
Apparatus for transmutation of nitrogen 14 (N14), into carbon 14 (C14) comprising in combination:

a) at least one cavity means for receiving N14 under pressure differentials in a continuous process,

b) electro-magnetic device for producing B fields within said cavities for holding N14 atoms in fixed magnetic positions to align along their B axes,

c) magnetic field supplies for producing said magnetic fields,

d) microwave generators operating at the resonant frequency of N14 atoms, and

e) antennas driven by said microwave generators for producing electromagnetic fields within said cavities for adding energy to N14 atoms whereby the desired transmutation is obtained.
Apparatus for transmutation of nitrogen 14 (N14), into carbon 14 (C14) comprising in combination:

a) at least one cavity for receiving N14 under pressure differentials in a continuous process,

b) electro-magnetic devices for producing B fields within said cavities for holding N14 atoms in fixed magnetic positions to align along their B axes,

c) excitation sources for producing said magnetic fields,

d) said cavities having a first and a second side divided lengthwise,

e) electric field supplies for placing direct current voltages between said first side and said second side of said cavities so as to produce electric E fields at right angles to said magnetic fields

f) microwave generators operating at the resonant frequency of N14 atoms, and

g) antennas driven by said microwave generators for producing electromagnetic fields within said cavities for adding energy to N14 atoms whereby the desired transmutation is obtained.
A method of obtaining carbon 14 (C14) comprising the steps of:

a) passing nitrogen 14 (N14) through an electromagnetic field oscillating at the resonant frequency of N14, and

b) using a magnetic field for holding atoms of N14 fixed in the magnetic (B) direction whereby electromagnetic energy is added to protons of N14 converting them into neutrons and thereby transmuting N14 into C14.
A method as in Claim 16 including the further step of using an electric field for holding atoms of N14 fixed in the electric (E) direction thereby enhancing the transmutation of N14 into C14.
A method as in Claim 16 or 17 including the further steps of:

a) producing said electromagnetic field within a cavity resonant at the resonant frequency of N14,

b) providing gasses under pressures within said cavity, and

c) controlling pressures of gasses within said cavity with interchangeable orifice plates at each end of said cavity whereby optimum pressures within cavities can be determined.
A method of measuring the flow of electrons released in the transmutation of N14 into C14 as a measure of the production of C14 by the transmutation process.